Love is always special, but when you're a thirty-six year old man experiencing it for the first time, it's everything.

After spending his entire life in a hospital, Brier Blackstone is finally free to become the person he's always wanted to be. With the men of Three Partners Protection Agency as role models, how can he go wrong? And falling in love with bodyguard Jackson Benoit, is a dream come true, but the dream becomes a nightmare when Jackie is gravely injured in the line of duty. Feeling helpless, Brier makes a promise to God in exchange for his lover's life. One he intends to keep no matter what.

Jackie Benoit cherishes the love he's found with Brier. When his new lover insists on testifying against a violent man from his past in order to fulfill a promise, Jackie has no choice but try to stop him. If that doesn't work, Jackie will protect Brier with everything at his disposal.

“…DEFG…” Brier placed the last file in the appropriate spot and closed the drawer. “Do you have anything else for me to do, Sheila?”

“No, sweetie, you’re all done. Why don’t you see if Bram is ready to call it a day?” the accounting office secretary said with a smile.

“Okay. See you Monday.” Brier picked up his coat and started to leave, but Sheila called him back.

“Brier? You forgot your paycheque.”

Smiling, Brier turned and picked his cheque up from the table where he’d laid it earlier. “I’m gonna need this, too.”

“Yeah? Special plans this weekend?”

“The carnival’s in town. Bram and Declan promised to take me.”

“Oh, isn’t that nice. You have fun.”

“I will.” With one last grin, Brier went to find his twin brother. Since being released from the psychiatric hospital nearly three years ago, Brier had worked and lived with Bram and his partner Declan.

He knew Bram was taking him to the carnival to help get his mind off of Jackie. Brier stopped walking and rubbed his eyes. Thinking about the only man he’d ever truly been in love with still made his chest hurt. Jackie had said he loved Brier too, but then Jackie had gone away to some foreign country and left him all alone.

Brier knew it was Jackie’s job to go train bodyguards for Three Partner’s Protection Agency, the company they all worked for, but it didn’t make it any easier to be alone. He waved hi to Mac as he passed his office on the way to Bram’s.

He poked his head in and smiled. “You almost finished?”

Bram looked up from his computer, those little tiny reading glasses perched on the end of his nose that Brier thought made his brother look so smart. “Yep. Just give me another ten minutes or so.”

“Okay. I’m gonna see if Mac’s going to the carnival.”

Bram nodded and went back to his computer. Brier travelled back down the hall to Mac’s office. He leaned against the doorjamb and waited for Mac to notice him.

“Hey,” Mac greeted. “How was your day?”

“Good. I got everything filed that Sheila asked me to, and I finished painting the break-room.”

“I know. The break-room looks terrific. I’m glad you suggested we go with the yellow. It really livens it up.”

Brier felt a blush creep up his cheeks. Mac always said nice things to him, but it was still hard for Brier to take a compliment without getting embarrassed. “Are you going to the carnival?”

Mac smiled and leaned back in his chair. “No, I think we’ll skip it this year. You?”

“Yeah. Bram and Declan are taking me.” Brier held up his paycheque. “Except I’m paying for myself.”

“That’s good.”

Brier tapped his foot on the leg of the desk. He wanted to ask a question, but didn’t want Mac to get mad at him.

“Something wrong, Brier?”

Brier shook his head. “I was just wondering if you’d talked to Jackie? He hasn’t called me for a while.”

Mac looked uneasy for a moment before his attention shifted to the door. Brier looked over his shoulder at Bram. “You ready?” Bram asked.

“Yeah. I was just asking Mac if he’d talked to Jackie.”

Bram took a deep breath. “I imagine Jackie’s too busy to call anyone these days. Don’t take it personally, brother.”

Brier stood and stuffed his cheque back into his coat pocket. He had a feeling something was going on. For several days he’d caught Bram whispering to Declan. A couple of times Brier thought he heard Jackie’s name, but when he questioned Bram, his brother always denied it. Maybe Jackie wasn’t coming home. What if he fell in love with someone else and didn’t want Brier anymore?

He felt that throbbing thing start in his head again. Brier lifted his hand to the thick scar on the side of his skull to rub away the pain, but it didn’t help. The scar his father had given to him as a baby was a constant reminder that he’d never be as smart as his twin brother. How a father could abuse an infant and then just sign over custody to the state when that abuse had permanent repercussions, Brier still didn’t understand. At least he was happy his father had been convicted after abuse led to the paralysis of his younger brother Thor. Brier didn’t feel a bit sorry that his father had been murdered in prison. He began to rub harder at the raised scar that ran in a large arc above his right ear.

“You okay?” Bram asked, stepping into the office.

“Head hurts.”

“Did you take your medicine?”

Brier hated it when Bram tried to baby him. He wasn’t a baby. “Yes. It just hurts sometimes when I get upset.” He pushed past Bram to the hall. “See you Monday, Mac. If you talk to Jackie, tell him I said hi.”

Bram stayed in Mac’s office for a few more minutes. Brier decided not to wait on him and went out to stand by Bram’s car. It was hot outside, so Brier took off his jacket. He thought it was weird how the mornings could be cold, but then the afternoons would get so hot.

Bram finally came out of the building and unlocked the doors. “I guess I should’ve given you the keys. You could’ve started the air conditioning.”

Brier didn’t say much. He got in and fastened his seat belt before leaning his head against the window. The hot glass felt good as it rubbed on the scar. “Are we going to eat at the carnival?”

“Whatever you want. This is your night.” Bram pulled out of the parking lot and headed for home.

Brier turned to his brother. Bram had been very patient with him since Jackie left. He hated that he’d had the meltdown while staying at the Triple Spur. Ever since that night, Bram had treated him differently. The way he’d been treated when he’d first been released from the psychiatric hospital in Oklahoma.

The hospital reminded him of Carl, Jimmy and Rick, the men who’d sexually abused him in the hospital. Bram had told him that Carl and Jimmy were in a little trouble, but they wouldn’t be going to jail, and the police hadn’t found Rick yet. He’d moved away. “Have you heard anything about Rick?”

Bram got a surprised look on his face. “What brought that up?”

Brier shrugged. “I don’t know, just thinking about stuff.”

“Sounds like some pretty heavy thinking.”

“Maybe,” Brier mumbled.

“The police haven’t located Rick yet, but when they do, they want to put him in jail.”

“Because of me?”

“Because of what he’s done to several men in the hospitals he’s worked in.” Bram shifted in his seat, and didn’t look at Brier anymore. “They want you to testify, but I told them no.”

“Why?” Brier asked.

“I don’t think you’re up to sitting in a courtroom with Rick, telling everyone in the room about the things he did to you.”

Bram nodded and reached over to squeeze Brier’s hand. “I know, buddy. That’s why I told the police they’d have to find another way to convict him.” Brier felt better. At least Rick couldn’t get to him if he didn’t see him. Rick used to tell him he’d kill him if he ever told. Brier knew he’d do it to. Rick was a bad, bad man.

“I have money to buy us all corndogs for supper,” he said, trying to change the subject.

“Are you sure that’s what you want to do with your paycheque? I can buy my own dinner.”

“You buy me dinner all the time.”

“Okay. Corndogs it is.”

Reader Reviews (23)

Submitted By: kathyj86 on Jan 20, 2015

This was another great series of Carol Lynne's. It was a wonderful story with very touching characters. I loved how she handled a man with a learning disability and showed how he too could find love. Wonderful story!

Submitted By: enjoy on Jan 10, 2015

The plot, throughout all the books in the series are action-packed and fast-paced all are page turners -- don't expect to breathe.
Have read all the series this is my fave, only sorry that I am
doing the reviews now. Great series recommend to all.

Submitted By: maybedog on Jan 29, 2014

I originally rated this barely a three because I was disturbed and confused by the relationship between this childlike man and his lover. But when I reread it I realized that I was using my own biases and that Brier is intelligent enough to make his own decisions and that his lover is not taking advantage of him. Since this book made me thing, it goes up a whole star because that's what the best books do.

Submitted By: fergie12 on Jan 25, 2014

1st book in the Bodyguard series. It got me hooked!

Submitted By: ksugreat on Jan 19, 2014

I found this book an interesting read-very few if any other stories out there dealing with someone with limited capabilities as the hero. It's not my favorite Carol Lynne book, but I liked it and will re-read it at some point as I do the others.

Submitted By: roula on Jan 1, 2014

i liked it when i only bought it cause of its price and didn't expect much. good read, the protagonist is very likeable and despite his problems quite the small hero. maybe his health issues is what makes you like his lover equally.

Submitted By: j_love on Jan 30, 2013

This is shaping up to be a very good series. I like that a harder edge was included in the story. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Submitted By: lilandra on Jan 24, 2013

Nice read.the author managed to built a well balanced relashionship between Brier and Jaclie in spite of Brier's Past,and there are some steamy scene to spice it up

Submitted By: theodorah on Jan 22, 2013

I liked this story and it's characters. I liked that both Brier and Jackie had problems both emotional and physical. That being said for the first of a series there seemed to be a lot of back story missing. It did not detract too much from the story but it was noticeable.

Submitted By: tmfreads on Jan 16, 2013

One of Carol's best!

Submitted By: amie/1968 on Jan 8, 2013

This was so cheesy I couldn't help but fall in love with it. You can't help but love Brier and want him to be happy. A definite comfort read!

Submitted By: anon321 on Jan 8, 2013

I really didn't like this book. Story wasn't great, didn't care for the main characters, sex scenes weren't hot. But then I forgot who the author was, which is a good thing, because I would have avoided reading any more. But I have since wound up enjoying lots of other Carol Lynne books. I recommend the author - just not this book.

Submitted By: craft13 on Jan 7, 2013

I liked this story quite a bit. The characters aren’t picture perfect, like in some stories, and I found I could relate to them quite well. Good interaction, dialogue and nice flow to the story. Very good introduction to the series and I recommend it.

Submitted By: mommag on Jan 6, 2013

This was a great story. I have read the whole series plus the others connected to it. Brier is one of my favorite characters and has to overcome so much to get what he really wants. Carol Lynne is a terrific author!

Submitted By: hooked on Jan 5, 2013

absolutely love this series

Submitted By: ctalleger on Jan 1, 2013

This author created a love story that is wonderful and out of the ordinary. I would recommend reading this series in order so you understand the cast of characters, but it can be read as a stand alone. I am looking forward to more in this series.

Submitted By: hnnaah on Dec 3, 2011

I certainly have not read all the books in this series. I picked this one and really liked it. The character growth was very interesting.

Submitted By: DrJ on Jun 8, 2011

A truly delightful M/M story of two men who love each other deeply: one is discovering abilities he has long been denied as he seeks to be a good partner after spending his early years in a mental institution. It is his life, and even though his brother loves him, he finds ways of demonstrating that he can be an adult in an adult relationship. Just a really fine read.

Submitted By: karenminfl on May 12, 2011

Received this as part of the Earth Day give away. And while I'm not normally a fan of m/m the story was wonderful and I was really pulled in by the story. This characters were so real and you couldn't help rooting for them. I enjoyed enough that I think I may just have to pick up the next book in the series to see what happens to the new character introduced at the end of the book.

Submitted By: jlfarkas on Apr 22, 2011

At first I was angered at the way the story makes Brier's character seem so simple-minded. Then, I realized that some of the brilliance of the writing style is actually in the portrayal of the simplicity of how a grown man with a mental disability would actually describe or see the world or react to a lover. This was a touching and revealing look into mental health issues between loved ones and a significant other. Also, it rocked with the hot hot hot sex scenes!

Submitted By: oldtimer25@gmail.com on Apr 19, 2011

I adored this book. Brier's growth as he lives up to his bargain and becomes "a better man" is beautiful to watch.
My only problem is that the story, although "Book One" of a series, is obviously the continuation of an ongoing story, referring back to past events, and I can't find the original story.
Where is it??

Submitted By: yummyskarsgard on Mar 6, 2011

Body Guards in Love is a great series. I really enjoyed this one, I love Rock n Roll' and 'Seb's Surrender'

Submitted By: youngromancelover on Jan 6, 2011

I really liked this book. It was captivating from the start to finish. It had it all; sad, funny, love & sexy scenes. Will be reading the other stories in the series. I recommend you try it.